Joystiq

Parody for charity: Retro Matt Hazard stuff on eBay

by JC Fletcher { 3 hours ago }

click to go down Fake Memory Lane in our galleryThe best part of the Matt Hazard series, in our opinion, is the part that doesn't exist -- the fake retro series which the new games pretend to reboot. While the classic Matt Hazard games aren't precisely real, you can now buy the cartridges on eBay. To benefit Child's Play, D3 is selling mockup Hazard memorabilia, including nonfunctional game cartridges and functional Haz-Matt Carts shirts -- and, of course, slap bracelets -- in four simultaneous auctions.

It's kind of the opposite of digital distribution: instead of getting a game without physical media, delivered over the internet, you'll get cartridges with no game inside through the mail.

Gallery: Matt Hazard promo items

VGA 2009: Felicia Day on Felicia Day

by Kevin Kelly { 4 hours ago }

This past Saturday brought us the Spike TV Video Game Awards and – before experiencing the litany of world exclusives that awaited us inside – we spent some time outside cruising the red carpet and talking (briefly!) to many of the game developers and talent. We squeezed them for information as fast as we could while simultaneously wishing them holiday cheer and good tidings. Yes, it was as awkward as it sounds. Here's what we learned from Felicia Day about, well ... Felicia Day.

How's the show going?

We just, a couple of weeks ago, the last episode of Season Three came out so we're between seasons right now. We're waiting for an update from Microsoft ... or Xbox. And I'm writing a comic book for Dark Horse before we start Season Four. Jim Rugg is the artist, but we have some amazing cover artists ... I can't say who yet, but when I get the art back I'm just blown away.

We talked with Blizzard about the 5 & 15 year anniversaries for Warcraft, and we asked them why there are no girls in the "What's Your Game" commercials and they asked us for suggestions. Why haven't you done one?

I know! You know, that would be a good call for me ... I'm one of those people who are recognized in certain circles, and not in others, and I like to keep it that way. But it would be great, I mean ... I'm a WoW girl, I love it!

So you think you could see yourself in one of those wacky commercials?

I would hope that they wouldn't be able to put my head on their character, like with the Mr. T one. Because that would just be too creepy. It already was creepy! I was trying to do like my "Thanksgiving" quest and I'm all "Stop with the Mr. T!" They were all over the place!

Are you working on anything now?

I'm filming the last episode of Dollhouse. The way that they wrap everything up is amazing, they really did it. I think I still have some apocalyptic dirt on my neck still. Also, I'm on an episode of Lie to Me ... I've been working for Fox a lot and I don't know why!

Are you playing anything else besides WoW right now?

Well, I play everything ... except I haven't played Uncharted 2 yet. I don't have a PS3. You know ... those are tax-deductible. Maybe I need to pick one up.

Happy Tree Friends branch out to iPhone

by Alexander Sliwinski { 5 hours ago }

Fact: Many serial killers experiment on animals in their early years.

Fact: Happy Tree Friends: Slap Happy allows you to abuse an adorable animal on your iPhone/iPod Touch for 99¢.

Therefore: Happy Tree Friends: Slap Happy in the hands of a child increases the likelihood they'll become a serial killer.

We could totally do our own Byron Report.

The effects of re-releases on classic game pricing

by JC Fletcher { 6 hours ago }

In a survey of (presumably) eBay prices for rare and collectible games, MTV Multiplayer's Jason Cipriani illustrates what re-releases of these games do to their resale value -- and, by association, to the people who hoard these game for profit. As it turns out, re-releasing rarities like Dracula X affects game collectors negatively in the same way it affects normal people positively -- by making the games more easily available, thus driving down the cost of copies in the original format. Won't someone please think of the jerks trying to make a profit from their rare games?

To use another Castlevania example, Castlevania Chronicles: Cipriani found a three-year high price of $70 for the 2001 PlayStation release in 2007. Two years later, after the game's release on PlayStation Network, physical copies dropped to a low price of $26.93. The people who just wanted to play the game could now get it for six bucks, leaving the PS1 discs for collectors only.

It's not as simple as a re-release dropping the value globally, however: the data shows some weirdly fluctuating prices, like Persona 2: Eternal Punishment on PlayStation, which seems to have gone up in price significantly following a reissue. Perhaps interest rose when buyers got the idea that it was even possible to buy an old Atlus game.

'Aaaaa' creator announces music game, 'Musorqua'

by JC Fletcher { 7 hours ago }

Dejobaan Games, developer of AaaaaAAaaaAAAaaAAAAaAAAAA!!! -- A Reckless Disregard for Gravity, has announced a new game with a somewhat less nonsensical title (and one that, should it ever be released in a physical format, would fit much more easily onto a CD case's spine: Musorqua.

The game, built on Aaaaa(etc.) technology in its prototype form, evokes Rez, involving shooting at different items to create musical sounds. Each musical track is represented by objects of a certain color, and bonuses are awarded by "kissing" buildings of the same color by brushing against them.

You can see footage of the prototype after the break. It's pretty abstract! No release date or platforms have been named, making even the idea of this as a playable product abstract.

[Via Shacknews]

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LucasArts developing The Force Unleashed 2 internally, hiring for 'other unannounced products'

by Randy Nelson { 8 hours ago }

It didn't take a Jedi Master to conclude that Star Wars: The Force Unleashed would be getting a sequel -- after all, it met with tremendous success, ranking as the fastest-selling Star Wars video game of all time and moving more than six million copies to date. Still, LucasArts laid off a majority of the team that developed it before the game even hit shelves, so many that our source at the time told Joystiq that the remaining group would be insufficient to produce a sequel should one be ordered.

So, now that The Force Unleashed 2 is officially happening, we naturally began to wonder: who's making the game? When asked for comment on the topic, LucasArts president Darrell Rodriguez told Joystiq, "Our internal team here in San Francisco will be focused on the game in addition to other development partners. The San Francisco team is made up of TFU veterans who are all bringing their hard earned muscle memory to the development process." Rodriguez didn't elaborate on who these "development partners" are, but it's clear that a core team at the company's Northern California HQ is only part of the development effort.

Rodriguez did not remark on whether any new staff is being hired to work on the title internally, but did reveal to us that LucasArts is "also currently hiring for some other unannounced products that we are internally developing as well." We're just going to assume that none of the staff who received pink slips last summer will be sending in resumes.

VGA 2009: Flower developers amidst the explosions and hype

by Kevin Kelly { 9 hours ago }

This past Saturday brought us the Spike TV Video Game Awards and – before experiencing the litany of world exclusives that awaited us inside – we spent some time outside cruising the red carpet and talking (briefly!) to many of the game developers and talent. We squeezed them for information as fast as we could while simultaneously wishing them holiday cheer and good tidings. Yes, it was as awkward as it sounds. Here's what we learned from Kellee Santiago and Jenova Chen from thatgamecompany about Flower.

Spike TV and the VGAs are all about naked women, shooters, and explosions. What's it like for Flower to be here?

Kellee Santiago: It's a very surreal experience. I think it shows that what are sort of seen as "artsy" games aren't niche, they appeal at the most commercial mass level, and that's very exciting for us.

Jenova Chen: We had Flower exhibit at the MOCA in Shanghai as an interactive art piece. It's quite interesting to see a video game stand next to these art installations. Being at these awards will hpefully give us even more exposure. The PlayStation Network had a sale during Thanksgiving, and a lot of people picked up Flower who had never heard of it before. Then we started to get a lot of emails thanking us for making the game. We know there are more people who haven't seen the game, and it would be great if they know what video games could be.

What's next? Could there be a sequel to Flower?

We're working on a third title for PlayStation Network right now, you'll see more soon. Hopefully you'll see something next year, but we don't know yet when it will come out.

Square Enix accepting beta applications for PC Final Fantasy XIV

by JC Fletcher { 9 hours ago }

Final Fantasy XIII? Totally old hat, even though it's not out yet. Square Enix has just opened applications for a Final Fantasy XIV beta, for the Windows version only. "All individuals are invited to apply," the page reads, "regardless of their past MMORPG experience."

Slow down, chocobo! Before applying, you need to be 18 years old, have plenty of hard drive space and an internet connection (obviously), be fluent in Japanese, English, French or German for the purpose of bug reports, and have a Square Enix ID account.

Though the current round of applications is only for the PC version, Square Enix indicates that a PS3 beta may be on the way later. And if you don't get in this time, don't worry -- the company says there will be "several rounds of tester selection, with the total number of participants increasing each time." And if there's anything Final Fantasy fans are good at, it's waiting their turn.

Gallery: Final Fantasy XIV

The Sims 3 gets Create a World tool

by Justin McElroy { 10 hours ago }

We can get on board with The Sims 3's people creation, but we have to admit to being a touch unnerved by the game's Create A World feature, which went into open beta today. We like watching an e-puppet that kind of but not really looks like our nosy next-door neighbor poop himself to death as much as the next blog, but entire worlds of human creation suitable for sharing with other Sims 3 players? Well, it sounds like witchcraft, pure and simple.

If you don't mind indulging in the Dark Arts, EA's got a full walkthrough of the new mode here. It's the quickest way to condemn your immortal soul to eternal torment for dabbling in forces you could not understand.

Study says word of mouth most important factor in games purchase intent

by David Hinkle { 10 hours ago }

Word of Mouf isn't just your favorite Ludacris album, it's also apparently crucial in deciding whether or not consumers will pick up a game. A new study from (deep breath) Waggener Edstrom Worldwide, Annenberg School for Communication & Journalism at the University of Southern California, and Harris Interactive concluded that word of mouth was three times as likely to affect a purchasing decision as opposed to traditional forms of advertising.

The study quizzed 507 gamers from July 6 to July 27 of this year. These gamers consisted of US adults who owned at least one gaming system, bought a video game in the six months prior to the study and admitted to playing a game for at least one hour per week.

The study also said participants identified special "Influence Mutlipliers," such as veteran gamers and the gaming community at large. These "Influence Multipliers" represented 21 percent of the gamers in the study, declaring they were the go-to people for friends and families looking for opinions on games. Boy, don't we know that pain!

Microsoft's Greenberg depicts theoretical November without MW2 as 'very different'

by Ben Gilbert { 11 hours ago }

It's no secret that the Xbox 360 received the lion's share of Modern Warfare 2 purchases during last month's retail blitz and Microsoft's Aaron Greenberg certainly knows it, telling us not too long ago that it was the "best November ever" for the console. So when G4TV recently asked Greenberg how a theoretical November 2009 without Modern Warfare 2 launching would have looked for the company in terms of console sales, we weren't shocked to see the Xbox exec say, "November without Modern Warfare 2 would have looked very different."

Besides the MW2-branded Xbox 360's affect on overall console sales ("hundreds of thousands," he claims), Greenberg guesses "we would have probably sold less consoles ... to be honest." In his eyes, MW2's launch was "an event" that convinced consumers to purchase the game over not just other games, but also over "buying an iPod or instead of going to a movie." Considering the game got its own branded drink -- though not the branded drink -- we think it's clear that the game has nearly reached Independence Day status.

Prince of Persia vignette has lots of shirtless Gyllenhaal, never enough

by David Hinkle { 11 hours ago }

We've been doing this Joystiq thing for a while now and, after sifting through years of traffic data, we think we finally know what you're all here for: shirtless Jake Gyllenhaal. It's okay, we're big fans of the guy's pecs, lats, abs, and peclatabs too. As such, we knew we had to post this behind-the-scenes look at Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time, not for its juicy interview bits nor to see the picturesque locales where the crew filmed, but for those few seconds of Gyllenhaal in all his shirtless glory. The video is right after the break. You're entirely welcome, internet.

[Via Latino Review]

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Joyswag: Wii System & Wii Fit Plus Bundles from QVC

by Joystiq Staff { 12 hours ago }

Welcome to Joystiq's "Naughty or Nice" holiday giveaway extravaganza! It's simple: Just follow the instructions below to enter for your chance to win. Ah, but to win what? There's always a catch, isn't there? Each "Naughty or Nice" giveaway features two prizes: a totally sweet bundle of holiday cheer and, um, a lump of coal. Winners are selected randomly, we assure you. Of course, who's to say luck isn't dependent on virtue ... Have you been naughty? Or nice?

To enter this giveaway:

Leave a comment on this post telling us if you've been "naughty" or "nice" this year. (Note: Your response will not affect your chance of winning any of the prizes in this giveaway.)
You must be 18 years or older and a resident of the US or Canada (excluding Quebec).
Limit 1 entry per person per calendar day.
This entry period ends at 12:00 pm ET on Tuesday, December 22. We'll randomly select two grand prize winners at that time to each receive QVC's "Nintendo Wii Gaming System w/ Accessories, Case & Games" (Item #E165361; product page), "Nintendo Wii Fit Plus & Accessory Kit w/ Mat & Balance Board" (Item #E165402), and New Super Mario Bros. Wii for Nintendo Wii (Total ARV: $597); and one first prize winner to receive Bass Pro Shops: The Strike w/ Rod and Reel Controller for Xbox 360 (ARV: $80) -- please check your emails!
For a list of complete rules, click here.

Many thanks to QVC for our featured grand prize: A custom Nintendo Wii Gaming System Bundle and custom Wii Fit Plus & Accessory Kit Bundle. Even better? Two grand prize winners each receive both bundles. Better still? We're tossing in a copy of New Super Mario Bros. Wii for each winner -- call it the cherry on top.

Of course, the Wii isn't your only opportunity to experience compelling motion-based gameplay. One first prize winner will receive Bass Pro Shops: The Strike with an "extremely life-like" fishing rod controller for Xbox 360. (Xbox 360 system not included.) "Whether casting, jigging, setting the hook, or reeling a fish in, you'll be amazed by the sensitivity and feedback the fishing rod controller provides."

What is Joyswag? Since we don't keep the games and merchandise we receive for review or promotional purposes, it becomes "Joyswag," which is passed along to our readers. For more info on our policy, click here.

Microsoft: Core games 'sell themselves,' Project Natal will broaden audience

by David Hinkle { 12 hours ago }

Microsoft's taken steps to appeal to the casual crowd, sure. The first was NXE, which brought us all things like Avatars and Netflix, with subsequent updates adding Facebook, Twitter and Last.fm. These are experiences meant to broaden the appeal of the Xbox 360 to casual gamers, a group that Microsoft spokesperson David Dennis told GI.biz is pretty tricky to hook.

Project Natal will play a big part in Microsoft's continuing goal to interest more casual players, Dennis said. He compared the interactive, controller-less experience to having the broad appeal of a title like Wii Fit -- something Dennis calls "an experience done right" that goes beyond the core yet still manages to "capture the imagination of the core." It's this dual-catering that Dennis thinks Natal excel at, as he predicts the hardware will enable experiences that the core will look forward to, as well as "casual game experiences that are easy to jump in and play."

In the interim, we offer Microsoft this ProTip for appealing to more casual players: Make more games with "Party" in the title. Who doesn't like a party?